Besides periodically asking for money, have they heard about the impact their gift has made to your mission? They gave for a reason. Do you know what it was for?

Have you tried to offer them something different? Something isn’t clicking. Try a new way to get engaged with you.

Have you picked up the phone to have a conversation with them? Are you listening?

Not so fast, says donor retention expert, Lisa Sargent. In a recent newsletter, Lisa outlines her perspective, complete with a Monty Python reference. She offers superb examples of what to test with your lapsed and long-lapsed files especially multiple or long-time lapsed givers, instead of immediately purging or ignoring these former donors.